Whether you are looking to kickstart your seasonal tan and transform your pale primer into something more golden, or you are comfortable with what you have and don’t want it to fade, you will need a good lotion to maximize the benefits of your session. The truth is that indoor tanning, when done with the right lotions that have the right ingredients, will make your tan richer. It is all about finding the best tanning lotion for tanning bed. The ingredients on the bottle will tell the story.

Why go to a tanning bed in the first place?

Tanning outdoors in the sun is a great pastime, but it takes a while to get results. It might take 3-6 weeks before you are nicely bronzed throughout. Also, when the season is just starting, you have to be brave enough to expose those pale shoulders and back outdoors to begin with. Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a way to get those bronzed results quicker, without having to go through the pale break-in phase? In as little as two sessions, you can create a nice base tan that would otherwise have taken three weeks of laying outdoors. There is a catch – you need specifically formulated lotion to help your skin maximize the effects of the UV rays. It is important that you take the time to understand what makes certain brands better than others when shopping for the best tanning lotion for tanning beds. The best choice of lotion will also depend what kind of results you are looking for – are you wanting to get that initial tan, or are you trying to preserve a tan that is already there?

Accelerators and maximizers

No matter what stage you are at in finding the best tanning lotion for tanning beds, it is important to know the two broad categories: accelerators and maximizers. Accelerators are designed for generating that initial darkening – they are what you would use at the beginning of the season. They are often enriched with moisturizers like coconut oil and avocado butter because newly tanned skin is more sensitive to the dehydrating effects of the tanning beds.

Maximizers are all about attaining a consistent, long-lasting tan that will remain. Because long-term exposure to UV rays can be damaging to skin pigment (i.e., dehydration, loss of elasticity and shine), a good maximizer that is one of the best tanning lotions for tanning beds will contain ingredients that are designed to reduce these effects. They are often rich in hemp seed oil because of its nourishing and protecting properties when applied to skin. Vitamin E generates similar benefits – it helps to protect the pigment from wrinkles and dark spots caused by UV rays. Silicon is also common in maximizers because it helps to revitalize the skin and improve texture.

Bronzers

The level to which an accelerator or maximizer will have browning effects depends on their level of bronzing agents, or bronzers. Bronzers are found in both maximizers and accelerators. They are either synthetic or natural. The most common synthetic bronzer is DHA. The base compound in DHA (dihydroxyacetone) works by initiating a chemical reaction that dyes the outer layers of skin a darker color. The dying effect is particularly strong on older skin cells. This is why DHA treatments only last 3-4 days; once the dyed layer of pigment (that is mature in the skin rejuvenation cycle) is replaced by newly formed cells, the darkened stuff sheds away. Then it’s time to start all over again. The best tanning lotion for tanning beds, whether they be maximizers or accelerators, will contain melanin instead of DHA. Melanin, the most powerful natural bronzer, is the pigment generating protein that is responsible for skin that is darker in color. By introducing a lotion that contains melanin, you are essentially speeding up the body’s natural ability to generate darker pigments. This is a far more robust strategy than using DHA, because the melanin is active in all the layers of pigment, instead of just the outer ones that shed away quickly.

The best tanning lotion for tanning beds are rich in melanin and low in DHA. Choose products with quality ingredients designed to meet your goals. If it’s your first time in a tanning bed, or you are a seasoned salon-goer, whether you have a good base tan in place or nothing at all – all these factors will help you narrow down the best product for you now. Overtime you may to select different products to meet your changing needs.